Multi-device complexity broker

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a brokering device adapted to manage multimedia information including an interface device having access to a network and a multimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection of multimedia information from the network and provides the selected multimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring the user to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for managing multimediainformation. More particularly, the present invention relates to abrokering device for multimedia information.

2. Brief Description of the Related Art

The present invention relates to devices for playing and displayingmultimedia information. Multimedia includes a combinations of text,audio, still images, animation, video, and interactive content.Multimedia information may be recorded, played, displayed, as part of alive performance or accessed by information content processing devices,such as computerized and electronic devices. For simplicity, the word“play” will be used to refer to play, record, display, or access in thisapplication.

There are many devices and programs for playing multimedia informationavailable. With the vast variety of devices and content there are alsomany protocols and formats used to manage the multimedia information.Managing of the multimedia information includes, but is not limited toplaying, converting, sharing, storing, organizing, searching, streaming,downloading, and purchasing the content. Although many devices includehardware and software that organize, search, convert, and translate theprotocols and formats, the process can be time consuming and may requirea user to have knowledge of protocols.

Examples of technology available include, but are not limited to thefollowing. A database that gathers and stores web content in a directoryfrom a webcast center using a subscription service. (U.S. Pat. No.6,442,598). A communication controller that establishes a connectionbetween an electronic device with limited storage ability and a remotetransport device. (U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,893). A multimedia database usedin distributed network environments to do the following: select andcoordinate information flow between multiple database sites and usersites, provide multimedia representations, create indexes of themultimedia information, derive a set of target multimedia databasesites, and enable database queries descriptions, and final searchresults based on interactive dialogue between a user and multimediadatabase. (U.S. Pat. No. 593,218). A network server with a databasecontaining text and multimedia information, a search agent, and arefining module. The network server that uses indexes of the databasedetermined by user queries and distributes them to a database site,where the information from the database can be retrieved and updated.(U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,856).

Currently, many devices and software programs available enableconversion between media types. Examples of software that convert mediainclude Digital Rapids®, Anystream Agility®, VLC, and FFmpeg.

Although the current devices and technology enable a person to do one ora combination of less than all of the following: play, convert, share,store, organize, search, and purchase media files, there is no universaldevice that hides the complexity of the actions using a diverse numberof protocols. More specifically, people use multiple devices withmultiple protocols and conversions between the different protocols canbe difficult and time consuming for the user. Additionally, whensearching for multimedia information, a user may not know thedifferences in quality or formats of multimedia information. Users alsodesire a device that chooses appropriate multimedia information fordevices in the network and even determine which multimedia informationis best for the specific devices.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a device that providesthe user with a simpler experience by decoupling the user from thetechnical aspects of the different protocols and is able to provide theuser with basic options that optimize the compatibility, quality, cost,or other criteria based on the user and the devices on the network.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a brokering device and a system formanaging multimedia information.

The brokering device is adapted to manage multimedia informationincluding an interface device having access to a network and amultimedia service provider. The interface device enables selection ofmultimedia information from the network and provides the selectedmultimedia information to a plurality of locations without requiring theuser to specify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

The system for managing multimedia information includes an interfacedevice having access to a network and a multimedia service provider anda brokering device adapted to manage multimedia information. Thebrokering device is operatively configured to communicate with theinterface device, the multimedia service provider, and the network. Theinterface device enables selection of multimedia information from thenetwork, and the interface device provides the selected multimediainformation to a plurality of locations without requiring a user tospecify a protocol associated with the multimedia information.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that thedrawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 depicts the basic elements of the complexity broker.

FIG. 2 depicts the architecture of the complexity broker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a brokering device that allows a user toeasily play and manage multimedia files using a user friendly interface,referred to as an interface device or a user interface, that hides thecomplexity associated with translating and identifying protocols ofmultimedia information, software, hardware, and network information. Thebrokering device may be configured to operate externally using abrokering service provider or internally using a local area network orprivate network, such as a home with multiple computers or servers thatenables the conversion within the local area network or private network.

The brokering device contains a dual layer method of brokeringmultimedia information using a service layer, also referred to as a usermodule; and a technical layer, also referred to as a function module.The service layer abstracts the discovery, control, delivery, and serverfunctions in a user-friendly and intuitive way by presenting the userwith an interface device, such as a web interface, a computer screen, acellular phone screen, and a television screen. The objective is toenable a user to simply use the interface device to select or inputinformation about multimedia information, such as an artist name or atitle of a song, and be able to play the multimedia information on amultimedia device, either by selecting a multimedia device to play thecontent or having the brokering device automatically select the device,using technologies such as GPS which are capable of identifying thelocation of the user and the location of devices in the vicinity.

Then, the technical layer of the brokering device will perform thecomplex functions involved with managing the multimedia information. Thepresent invention has two technical aspects. The first is the mediaformat conversion functionality, known also as transcoding. The secondis the set of protocols that allow content discovery, identification ofthe functions available in a given device. The functionality includesthe ability to serve content, transform content using transcoding andcontrol content, such as selecting the source and the destination of thecontent and connecting them together or rendering the content. Severalprotocols available to accomplish this include uPnP®, DLNA®, iTunes®,and Microsoft® protocols.

By separating the service and the technical layer, the brokering deviceconfiguration hides the complexity involved with managing the multimediainformation. Therefore, a user who is not technically savvy is able tomanage and play multimedia information between protocols and multimediadevices by making simple selections and not worrying about technicaldetails.

The benefits of using the brokering device with the brokering serviceprovider includes the ability to use one brokering device to managemultimedia information contained on multiple databases and on multiplesources, such as hardware, software, or the interne, without requiringthe user to have knowledge of technical details to manage and playmultimedia information. Additionally, to use the brokering serviceprovider with the brokering service allows a user to seamlessly changethe multimedia device playing the multimedia information. For example,the user may move between different rooms in a house or between a houseand a car without missing a portion of the multimedia information,having to seek the multimedia information on different multimediadevices, or carry around a copy of the multimedia information.

As used herein, the term seek refers to jumping to a different offset orpoint in the same multimedia file. In the above example, the user doesnot even have to pause the multimedia file on the multimedia device inthe car, such as an mp3 player, because the brokering device is trackingthe location/offset and the second device, such as a home stereo, canjust start playing at the tracked location/offset. An additional featureincludes incorporating a sensor or a GPS device in the brokering devicethat can determine if a person is close to the home stereo in the aboveexample and then automatically start playing the home stereo when theuser enters the home. A further capability includes using the userdiscovery protocol 46 to configure and provide instructions for actionsto automatically occur, depending on the media hand-off scenario.

With reference to FIG. 1, the brokering device 10 is connected to abrokering service provider 11 and the brokering device 10 communicateswith a user 12, a plurality of multimedia devices 14, and a multimediacontent file 16 using a network 18; and contains a discovery module 20.The network 18 contemplated includes small through large networks,examples are Personal Area Networks (PAN), Local Area Networks (LAN),and Wide Area Networks (WAN), such as the interne. The brokering device10 enables the user 12 to configure a user profile 22 that containsinformation about the user and commonly used multimedia devices 14. Suchinformation may be obtained from the user and from a database 48containing user information, such as a record of the user's 12 previousactivity.

The multimedia devices 14 contemplated include but are not limited tostereos, televisions, computers, digital media personal recorders andplayers, and mp3 players. The brokering device 10 is also able to obtainand store information in a multimedia device descriptor 24. Suchinformation stored includes the device's protocol for the multimediacontent files 16. The multimedia content file 16 may include, forexample, mp3 songs, DVD movies, and any other multimedia informationoffered by a service provider, such as AT&T®, Netflix®, or Blockbuster®.Each multimedia content file 16 may also include a multimedia contentdescriptor 26 that contains information about the file such as theprotocol, length of time, quality, or other attributes as specified, butnot limited to standard representations, such as MPEG-7 and MPEG-21. Thediscovery module 20 obtains information from each of the user profile22, the multimedia device descriptor 24, and the multimedia contentdescriptor 26.

FIG. 2 outlines the details of how the brokering device 10 works. Thebrokering device 10 contains two distinct layers. The first layerincludes a user module 28 having a user interface 30 that enables a userto select the multimedia content file 16. The second layer includes afunction module 32 having a control module 34 that communicates with theuser module 28 and the discovery module 20. The function module 32 isdesigned to receive commands from the user module 28 and issues commandsto the user module 28. The commands are then displayed on an interfacedevice via the user module 28. The protocols included within thefunction module 32 include, for example, DLNA®, UPNP®, and MPPT. Thecontrol module 34 is designed to communicate information from the usermodule 28 and the function module 32 to the brokering service provider11.

The control module 34 may also communicate with a rule engine 36 and anexecution module 38 that can communicate with the network 18. The ruleengine 36 applies user preferences, external policies, such as DigitalRights Management, which are dictated by the service provider, and/orinternal policies, such as a parental restriction that restricts aparticular multimedia device 14 from playing multimedia content files 16rated “R.” The execution module 38 takes the policies as a whole andidentifies and executes the low level operations that need to be appliedto implement the policy. For example, the execution module 38 will allowdiscovery of only a limited set of servers and/or multimedia informationproviders depending on the rules engine 36, such as preventing aparticular multimedia device 14 from accessing multimedia content files16 rated “R.”

The discovery module 20 searches for various protocols and can alsoreceive information from the network 18 regarding the protocols. Thediscovery module 20 has a self-registering feature 50 that is capable ofretrieving information relating to a network discovery protocol 40, adevice discovery protocol 42, a content discovery protocol 44, and auser discovery protocol 46. The discovery module 20 receives theprotocols in the following manner: the network discovery protocol 40communicates with the network 18; the device discovery protocol 42obtains the information from the multimedia device descriptor 24; thecontent discovery protocol 44 obtains the information from themultimedia content descriptor 26; and the user discovery protocol 46obtains the information from the network 18, the user profile 22 in auser database 48, or the user interface 30.

The self-registering feature 50 of the discovery module 20 allows thedevice discovery protocol 42 and the content discovery protocol 44 tointelligently and automatically match multimedia content files 16 andknown multimedia devices 14. Within the discovery module 20 is arestriction feature 52 that determines if the multimedia content file 16is legally obtained or obtainable. The restriction feature 52 is used toprevent the user 12 from using the brokering device 10 to illegallyobtain multimedia content files 16.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a search feature 54that will enable the brokering device 10 to search for multimediacontent files 16 between multiple storage locations, including hardwareand software sources. The search feature 54 may also be designed tosearch for multimedia content files 16 using an internet search engine,a multimedia application and distribution system, such as iTunes®, or asubscription service, such as Rhapsody®. An additional feature of thisembodiment may also include a classification feature 56 that will ratemultimedia information available on hardware, software, or for purchasebased on price, format, quality, providers, or other criteria. Theclassification feature 56 may be configured to determine the bestmultimedia information based on different criteria or provide the userinterface 30 with a list of options and rating information and allow theuser 12 to select the multimedia content file 16 from listed options.

A further embodiment of the brokering device 10 connected to thebrokering service provider 11 includes a media hand-off feature 58,where, for example, the self-registering feature 50 allows for theplaying, stopping and seeking of the multimedia content files 16 betweenmultiple multimedia devices 14. For example, the user can watch a movieon an iPod® then continue viewing the movie to an HDTV in their homeseamlessly using the user interface 30. An additional feature includesusing the media hand-off feature 58 to prorate the cost of viewing themultimedia content file 16 on different multimedia devices 14 that havedifferent protocols. Thus, if the user watches one-half of the movie onthe iPod® and one-half of the movie on the HDTV they would pay forone-half at the iPod® rate and one-half at the HDTV rate.

Another feature of the present invention includes a backup feature 60that provides a backup copy of multimedia content files 16 purchased bythe user 12 in the user discovery protocol 46. The backup feature 60 mayalso include multimedia content descriptor 26 information, such as thetime of purchase and the multimedia devices 14 capable of playing themultimedia content files 16.

A further feature of the present invention includes a messaging feature62 to send messages across the network 18 from the user's profile 22.The messaging feature 62 would be configured similar to a social networkand would allow users 12 to send messages concerning multimedia contentfiles 16 including information about the quality of the multimediacontent file 16 or information about multimedia services.

A still further embodiment of the present invention includes amultimedia player device 64 capable of using the brokering device 10 toplay all multimedia content files 16 using the multimedia player device64 instead of individual multimedia devices 14 for different protocols.The advantage of the multimedia player device 64 is the convenience thatthe user 12 only needs one multimedia device 14, the multimedia playerdevice 64, to play all multimedia content files 16 and the multimediaplayer device 64 could include the brokering device 10 with the userinterface 30.

The main advantage of using the broking device 10 with the brokeringservice provider 11 is the ability to provide a user friendly devicethat hides the complexity of associating multimedia content files 16with multimedia devices 14. Another advantage is that theself-registering feature 50 enables the brokering device 10 to beintelligent and automated when matching multimedia content files 16 tomultimedia devices 14, finding the least expensive provider ofmultimedia content files 16, and verifying the ability to obtain themultimedia content files 16 legally. In sum, the brokering device 10with the brokering service provider 11 provides the user with a worryfree approach to accessing multimedia content files 16 and makes itconvenient and simple for a user to use multiple multimedia devices 14with multiple multimedia content files 16 using the brokering device 10to manages the multimedia content files 16 stored in hardware orsoftware and streamed through the interne, such as podcasts.

Yet another advantage of using the brokering device 10 described aboveincludes the ability to make dynamic adaption downstream because thebrokering device 10 dynamically adapts to the hardware and softwareavailable on the network 18. This is possible because the brokeringdevice 10 connected to the brokering service provider 11 is the singlepoint of contact for sharing information between devices. This singlepoint of contact with the self-register feature allows the brokeringservice provider 11 to be incorporated into the functionality of thebrokering device 10. Incorporating the service provided by the brokeringservice provider 11 creates competition among multimedia content file 16distributors.

A further advantage of portability is provided by the media hand-offfeature 58, which would allow a person to access multimedia contentfiles 16 using any network 18 and the ability to switch betweendifferent multimedia devices 14 seamlessly.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has been describedherein with reference to certain preferred or exemplary embodiments. Thepreferred or exemplary embodiments described herein may be modified,changed, added to or deviated from without departing from the intent,spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is intended that allsuch additions, modifications, amendment and/or deviations be includedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A brokering device to manage multimediainformation, the brokering device comprising: an interface deviceconfigured to select a multimedia content file, the interface devicebeing configured to provide the selected multimedia content file to aplurality of multimedia devices without requiring a user to specify aprotocol associated with the selected multimedia content file; a controlmodule including a processing device, the processing device configuredto discover the selected multimedia content file on a network andprovide a function to a multimedia device in compliance with a policy;and a rule engine that communicates with the control module to providethe policy, the policy comprising an internal policy or an externalpolicy, the policy permitting discovery of only a predetermined limitedset of multimedia content files.
 2. The brokering device of claim 1,further comprising a discovery module to search for protocols, thediscovery module operating in accordance with a network discoveryprotocol to communicate with the network, the discovery module operatingin accordance with a device discovery protocol to obtain informationfrom a multimedia device descriptor, the discovery module operating inaccordance with a content discovery protocol to obtain information froma multimedia content descriptor, the discovery module operating inaccordance with a user discovery protocol configured to communicate witha database and the network.
 3. The brokering device of claim 2, whereinthe discovery module further comprises a self-registering feature thatenables the device discovery protocol and the content discovery protocolto match the selected multimedia content file in the multimedia device.4. The brokering device of claim 3, wherein the self-registering featurefurther comprises a media hand-off feature enabling playing, stopping,and seeking of the selected multimedia content file and enabling paymentat a prorated amount depending on an amount of time content is played ona multimedia device.
 5. The brokering device of claim 2, wherein thecontent discovery protocol further comprises a search feature capable ofsearching multiple storage locations for the selected multimedia contentfile.
 6. The brokering device of claim 5, wherein the search featurefurther comprises a classification feature to rate the selectedmultimedia content file based on information from a multimedia contentdescriptor including price, format, quality, and provider information.7. The brokering device of claim 2, wherein the content discoveryprotocol further comprises a restriction feature, the restrictionfeature configured to use the content discovery protocol to determinelegal rights associated with the selected multimedia content file. 8.The brokering device of claim 2, wherein the user discovery protocolfurther comprises a backup feature for storing multimedia contentdescriptor information and a copy of the selected multimedia contentfile.
 9. The brokering device of claim 2, wherein the user discoveryprotocol further comprises a messaging feature enabling sending andreceiving of messages across the network.
 10. The brokering device ofclaim 1, further comprising an execution module that communicates withthe control module and the network to identify and execute an operationbeing applied to implement the policy.
 11. The brokering device of claim1 further comprising a multimedia player device capable of playing theselected multimedia content file, wherein the selected multimediacontent file includes more than one file format.
 12. The brokeringdevice of claim 1, wherein the policy comprises an internal policy or anexternal policy.
 13. A system for managing multimedia informationcomprising: a brokering device to manage multimedia information, thebrokering device including: an interface device operative to select amultimedia content file, the interface device being configured toprovide the selected multimedia content file to a plurality ofmultimedia devices without requiring a user to specify a protocolassociated with the selected multimedia content file; a control moduleincluding a processing device configured to discover the selectedmultimedia content file on a network and provide functions to amultimedia device in compliance with a policy; and a rule engine thatcommunicates with the control module to provide the policy, the policycomprising an internal policy or an external policy, the policypermitting discovery only of a predetermined limited set of multimediacontent files; and a multimedia device configured to play the selectedmultimedia content file.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein thebrokering device further comprises: an execution module thatcommunicates with the control module and the network to identify andexecute an operation being applied to implement the policy; and adiscovery module to search for protocols, the discovery module operatingin accordance with a network discovery protocol for communicating withthe network, the discovery module operating in accordance a contentdiscovery protocol to obtain information from a multimedia contentdescriptor, the discovery module operating in accordance with a devicediscovery protocol to obtain information from a multimedia devicedescriptor, the discovery module operating in accordance with a userdiscovery protocol configured to communicate with a database and thenetwork.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the discovery modulefurther comprises a self-registering feature that enables the devicediscovery protocol and the content discovery protocol to match theselected multimedia content file in the multimedia device, theself-registering feature including a media hand-off feature enablingplaying, stopping, and seeking of the selected multimedia content fileand enabling payment at a prorated amount depending on an amount of timecontent is played on the multimedia device.
 16. The system of claim 14,wherein the content discovery protocol further comprises a restrictionfeature, the restriction feature configured to use the content discoveryprotocol to obtain information on legal rights associated with theselected multimedia content file, and a search feature to searchmultiple storage locations for the selected multimedia content file, thesearch feature including a classification feature to rate the selectedmultimedia content file based on information from a multimedia contentdescriptor including price, format, quality, and provider information.17. The system of claim 14, wherein the user discovery protocol furthercomprises: a backup feature to store the multimedia content descriptorinformation and a copy of the selected multimedia content file; and amessaging feature configured to enable sending and receiving of messagesacross the network.
 18. The system of claim 13, further comprising amultimedia player device capable of playing the selected multimediacontent file, wherein the selected multimedia content file includes morethan one file format.
 19. The system of claim 13, wherein the policycomprises an internal policy or an external policy.